US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities: The radiation leak threat, explained
The United States attacked three key nuclear installations in Iran on Sunday morning (June 22), with President Donald Trump claiming that all the three facilities had been 'completely and totally obliterated.' The US attacks follow a series of missile strikes by Israel last week, also targeting Iran's nuclear installations, most notably Natanz, which was a target of Sunday's US bombing as well.
Sunday's attacks targeted Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities, all of them key uranium enrichment sites that house the infrastructure to convert natural uranium into highly-enriched uranium (HEU) that can potentially be used to make a nuclear bomb.
Enrichment is the process of increasing the concentration of Uranium-235 (U235) in a sample of natural uranium which is primarily — more than 99 per cent — Uranium-238 (U238). It is only U-235 that is fissile, meaning its nucleus is susceptible to being broken (fissionable) through a process that produces energy, and is capable of sustaining a chain reaction. An enrichment of 3-5 per cent is adequate for producing electricity in nuclear power stations, but for making nuclear weapons, HEU, which has concentrations of 90 per cent or more of U235, is required.
The attacks have led to fears of a major nuclear disaster, in the form of nuclear explosion, or at least largescale nuclear radiation leaks. However, an explosion is not expected under these circumstances, and thankfully, no major radiation leak has been detected so far.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear watchdog, said it had not seen any increase in 'off-site radiation levels' following Sunday's attacks. Iran has also said that there was no risk to public health because of the attacks.
A nuclear bomb is very different from the traditional explosives and chemicals used in warfare. Traditional bombs use a variety of chemicals that are generally designed to explode on impact, like when they are dropped. These chemical explosives can go off in other circumstances as well, like when they are exposed to heat or friction. These are explosive in themselves, and can get triggered and cause damage even when they are not used in the way they are designed to. Specifically, stored chemical explosives can lead to blasts when these are struck by other weapons.
Nuclear weapons, or nuclear material, do not behave like that. A nuclear bomb causes damage not by exploding the way traditional bombs do, but by releasing very high amounts of energy in a very short span of time. This large amount of energy sets off a series of processes that cause widespread damage.
Nuclear weapons are designed to detonate mid-air, not on impact like traditional explosives. They release a massive amount of energy in a few milliseconds, which heats up the surrounding air to millions of degrees Celsius, leading to the formation of what are known as blast waves, an expanding bubble of extremely hot air. Most of the damage is caused by these blast waves.
A nuclear explosion also releases electromagnetic radiations of different kinds, and these also cause a lot of destruction.
The release of energy from a nuclear device is the result of completion of the chain reaction in the fissile material. The initiation of the chain reaction requires a very precise set of processes to be followed and very precise conditions. These precise conditions cannot be met accidentally, or when the fissile material is under some kind of stress, like when it is struck by a missile or a bomb.
That is why the Israeli, or the American, strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities do not result in a risk of a nuclear explosion. The sites, and the infrastructure it contained, could have been damaged, but there is no likelihood of a nuclear explosion.
But what about radiation leak
This is a more realistic threat. There are risks of both chemical and radiological leaks. Nuclear facilities, by their very nature, store a lot of radioactive substances, particularly uranium in different forms, including in gaseous state like uranium hexafluoride (UF6), and dust. Radioactive substances are unstable and release radiation over time. Some of these radiations, like gamma rays, are extremely harmful. They can penetrate the skin, damage cells and DNA, and can cause cancer.
These radioactive substances are stored, and handled, in carefully designed containers in any nuclear facility. These facilities are constructed in ways to minimise the risk of any leak of radioactive substances in outer environment or in sources of water or food.
An attack on these facilities, like the one carried out by Israel or the US, can damage or disrupt the mechanisms that ensure safe storage and handling of these substances. Two of the biggest instances of radiological leaks are the accidents that happened in Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011. In both these cases, largescale radioactive substances escaped into the atmosphere as a result of accidents, posing a major threat to human beings and others.
A more recent threat was seen at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine that has been caught in the fight between Russian and Ukrainian forces. The Zaporizhzhia plant is the largest in Europe, and has come under direct attack several times during the conflict. Thankfully, it continues to operate safely.
The IAEA, which monitors nuclear activities worldwide, including radiation incidents, has said there has been no increase in radiation levels in areas surrounding the targeted sites in Iran. '…the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time. IAEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available,' it said on Sunday morning, within hours of the US attack.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US cities beef up security after Trump launched airstrikes on Iran
Major US cities are tightening security after President Donald Trump unleashed airstrikes on Iran, a direct military intervention that's deepened Washington's role in Israel's war with Tehran and raised concerns about potential retaliation. In Los Angeles, mayor Karen Bass said that officials in the second largest US city are closely monitoring the situation.(AFP/ representational) Iran early Sunday warned that the US attack, dubbed 'Operation Midnight Hammer' by the Pentagon, will trigger 'everlasting consequences' and said it 'reserves all options' to respond. Police in New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles have since increased patrols at religious institutions, diplomatic facilities and public spaces. Officials cited no credible threats at this time but highlighted the need for vigilance. In the capital, the Metropolitan Police Department said it's closely monitoring the events in Iran and is coordinating with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to share information and monitor intelligence. The New York Police Department said it's deployed additional officers across the city and is coordinating with the US Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to monitor for any potential threats. Additional resources have been allocated to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across the city. The Greater New York area is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, with about 1.4 million people. Since 2001, the NYPD and its federal partners have disrupted about 30 plots targeting the city, the department said. Officials said those efforts reflect a broad strategy that combines intelligence gathering, overseas partnerships and rapid response capabilities — tools they're now using to assess any fallout from the US strikes on Iran. The department's Intelligence Bureau operates an international liaison program with embedded personnel in 13 countries, including in Israel, where an officer is providing real-time assessments from the region. The NYPD also maintains a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, where meetings can take place without fear of listening devices. Three DHS intelligence analysts are assigned to the department, facilitating the flow of classified information and supporting joint threat analyses. Additional capabilities include a foreign linguist program with more than 1,200 registered speakers across 85 languages, and the Domain Awareness System, a real-time surveillance and analytics platform developed in partnership with Microsoft. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass said that officials in the second largest US city are closely monitoring the situation. 'Out of an abundance of caution, LAPD is stepping up patrols near places of worship, community gathering spaces and other sensitive sites,' Bass said. 'We will remain vigilant.'
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Strait of Hormuz Closure: What is Iran's next move as regime takes final call to close Strait of Hormuz as Yemen joins Iran in war against US and Israel? See if Russia may come to Iran's aid
Yemen Announces Military Involvement Iran Responds to Airstrikes Live Events Iran Accuses US of Legal Violations Will Strait of Hormuz Close? Iran Seeks Support from Russia FAQs Yemen has declared it will support Iran in its ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States. The announcement comes after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. The situation has raised tensions in the Middle East and prompted global General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, announced on social media that Yemen is now part of the war against Israel and the United States. He warned foreign ships to avoid Yemen's territorial statement followed a military message from the Yemeni Armed Forces. The message condemned attacks by Israel on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and other countries. It claimed the US was supporting Israeli military operations and creating instability in the Iranian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Sunday. It strongly criticized the US for attacking Iranian nuclear facilities. These facilities are under international inspection by the IAEA . Iran called the strikes a violation of international law and statement also noted that the attacks happened during the tenth day of Israel's offensive against Iran. Iran reported that at least 400 people have died in the conflict so said the strikes violated the United Nations Charter and Security Council Resolution 2231. This resolution supports the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran demanded that the UN and IAEA act immediately. It urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting. Iran also criticized the IAEA Director General. It claimed he was not impartial and helped enable the parliament has approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz. However, the final decision will come from Iran's Supreme National Security Council. This waterway handles about 20% of global oil and gas traffic. A commander said the closure will happen if Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he would visit Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. He mentioned the strategic partnership between the two countries. Russia has supported Iran's nuclear program and received Iranian drones for its conflict in Ukraine. Russia has also kept ties with joined the war to support Iran and oppose US and Israeli military actions in the region after recent airstrikes escalated may close the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, but the final decision lies with its Supreme National Security Council.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
UN Security Council to meet on Iran as Russia, China push for a ceasefire
Live Events The U.N. Security Council will meet Sunday to discuss U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. The three countries circulated the draft text, said diplomats, and asked members to share their comments by Monday evening. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to U.S. is likely to oppose the draft resolution, seen by Reuters, which also condemns attacks on Iran's nuclear sites and facilities. The text does not name the United States or world awaited Iran's response on Sunday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. had "obliterated" Tehran's key nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 requested the U.N. Security Council meeting, calling on the 15-member body "to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms."Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement on Sunday that the U.S. and Israel "do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place."U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday branded the U.S. strikes on Iran as a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge - and a direct threat to international peace and security .""At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace," Guterres said in a statement.
